Becoming Certified

for Peer Advocates

For aspiring adult Peer Advocates, there are two areas of focus that will dictate your path to certification.  Either you will decide to work primarily in mental health settings or primarily in substance use/addiction settings. This decision should be based on your own lived experiences and what you feel you can offer the individuals you will be supporting.

The three main steps toward the New York Certified Peer Specialist (NY-CPS) certification are as follows:

  1. Go to The Academy of Peer Services website. They offer online courses which will be your very first step toward becoming a Peer Advocate.
  2. Having completed those courses, you can apply to become a Peer Advocate working primarily in mental health settings by filling out an application online here. The NY Peer Specialist site* also has a PDF version of the application detailing all of the criteria for the New York Certified Peer Specialist (NY-CPS) certification. 
  3. When you submit your application to the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB), you will receive confirmation that your application has been delivered. Following that, it could take between 4-8 weeks to become certified.

*You can also become recertified on the NY Peer Specialist website.

As you start this journey, keep in mind that there are many resources that can help Peer Advocates succeed in their application and in their role. For local programs that provide guidance and mentoring in becoming a certified Peer Specialist, check out:

There are several certifications you can obtain if you are interested in working in substance use/addiction settings.

1. Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA): Obtained for working in employment settings seeking Medicaid Reimbursement for services.

You can obtain this certification though either New York Association of Substance Abuse Providers or Recovery Coach University

2. Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC): Obtained for working in employment settings not seeking Medicaid Reimbursement for services.

You can obtain this certification though either New York Association of Substance Abuse Providers or Recovery Coach University

3. Veteran Supported Recovery (VSR): Obtained for working with veterans.

A full overview on how to achieve a Veteran Supported Recovery Certificate can be found here.

For job opportunities, please see the following sites:

Anyone who meets the criteria to become a Youth Peer Advocate is eligible for enrollment in a three part training series that can be found on the Families Together in New York State website. The three parts are:

This training includes the following modules:

  • Introduction to the Youth Peer Advocate Service
  • Developing Self Efficacy Skills
  • Cultural Competence
  • Professional Expectations
  • Small Group Facilitation
  • Navigating the System
  • Documenting Your Work

To take this training, you must have completed:

  • You have completed the YPA Level 1 Online Training.
  • Access will be automatically granted upon completion of the Level 1 post-training self-efficacy questionnaire and post-training knowledge survey.

In this training, you will learn the following modules:

  • Working Across Systems
  • Part 1 Service Systems
  • Part 2 Service Systems
  • Education into Career
  • Understanding Marginalized Populations

You should take this training if:

  • You hold a current YPA Provisional Credential; and,
  • You have completed ALL of the Level 1 and Level 2 online modules; and,
  • You are currently providing services that fill within the role of a YPA (employed or formal volunteer); and,
  • You are available to participate in the full training along with weekly coaching calls (schedule TBD).

This in-person training is 4 days long. More information is available here.

For job opportunities, please see the following sites: 

For aspiring Family Peer Advocates, there are two areas of focus that will dictate your path to certification.  Either you will decide to work primarily in mental health settings or primarily in substance use/addiction settings. This decision  will likely be based on your own lived experiences and what you feel you can offer the individuals you will be supporting.

Both initial certification and recertification can be done through Families Together in New York State. They also provide this extremely informative infographic that details the 6 concise steps necessary to become certified.

Once certified, you will likely be seeking employment. 

Your initial certification for working in substance use settings is:

Certified Recovery Peer Advocate- Family Certification (CRPA-F)

You can obtain this certification though either New York Association of Substance Abuse Providers or Recovery Coach University 

Ongoing certification for CRPA-F can be earned at ASAP-NYCB Certification Renewal Program

The sites below are great resources for finding employment as a Family Peer Advocate:

Resources for Peer Advocates

Discover useful links to guide your path in becoming a peer advocate.